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(ModeL) I F. S. KRETSINGERS; E. STEWART.

SCYTHE SNATHFASTENING. No. 280,486; I Patented July 3, 1883.

A L hq. 1, C 21 m g 1 u'apiuu ugnpher. wmmmn u c UNITED STATES PATENT tries.

FREDERICK S. KRETSINGER AND EDWARD STEWVART, OF FORT MADISON, IOW'A; SAID STEWART ASSIGNOR TO SAID KRETSINGER.

SCYTHE-SNATH FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming {part of Letters Patent No. 280,486, dated July 3, 1883,

Application filed April 19, 1883.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that we, FREDERICK S. KRET- SINGER and EDWARD STEWART, citizens of the United States, residing at Fort Madison, in the county of Lee. and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scythe-Snath Fastenings;and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in scythe-snath fastenings.

It consists in the swinging plate, pivoted at its lower end and swinging laterally, and provided with holes to receive the tang of the scythe, and having at its upper end a trans verse slot, open at one end, whereby a hook is provided and the eyebolt adapted to receive and hold the hook, and thereby clamp the swinging plate securely at any point desired, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of a portion of the scythe-handle, having the clamping mechanism fixed thereto. Fig. 2 is a front or plan view of same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the swinging plate, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the eyebolt, all of which will be described.

The'scythehandle A is provided on its lower end with the ferrule a and the clamping-ring b, which works in a suitable slot through the ferrule a and handle A, as shown. The shank b of this clamping-ring is screw-threaded, as shown, to receive the nut 11 whereby the ring is clamped against the tang of the scythe in the operation of the device, as will be described. The lower end of the handle A is out (Model.)

that described by the plate in its motion, and is open at one end, whereby the hook c. is provided. The shape of this hook in cross-section is preferably approximately conical, its fiat portion or base resting or moving against the face A of the handle A, and the bottom of the eye opening in the eyebolt, hereinafter described.

The eyebolt d has the eye d formed on its upper end, and is passedthrough asuitable opening formed through the handle A in the path of the hook c", and the eye-opening d of said bolt is arranged in position to receive the said hook in the operation of the device. The eyeopening (1 is madeof a suitable shape to receive the hook 0*, and the eyebolt, on opposite.

sides of the said opening d is made of awidth about equal to that of the slot 0 and about fills the said slot. The bolt d extends through the handle A, and is tightened on the hook c by means of the nut e, which turns on the lower end of the bolt d, and preferably against a washer, e, interposed between the nut e and the body of the handle.

In the operation of fastening, the tang of the scythe is passed through the ring-b and over the plate 0, with the end of its turned point rested in one of the depressions or holes 0'. The plate is then swung so as to bring the outer or inner end of the hook under the eyebolt, according to the desire or strength of the person by whom the scythe is to be used, as is well understood.

Where the scythe is to be used by one of less than vordinary strength, it is desirable to have the point of the scythe brought in as near him as possible, limiting the sweep and consequently the labor of handling the same.

The slot 0 being open at its end, it will be seen that the plate 0 may be swung almost clear of the eyebolt, a small portion only, even the extreme end, of the hook sufficing as a bearing for the eyebolt, through which the hook is passed, and by which the swinging plate is clamped in its desired position, in the manner before described.

By means of the eyebolt (1, operating in the manner described, the broad base of the hook 0 or arn1.c* is forced against the face A of the handle A, and a firmer fastening is obtained than in devices of ordinary construction. By making the eye-opening" d" of the preferred approximately conical shape, and the hook to correspond, a hearing is had over a larger sur' face than if the top of the opening were square,- and a proportionately stronger and firmer clamping of the swinging plate is obtained.

The clainping-eyebolt may be readily re leased when it is desired to change the angle of the scythe.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a seyt'hesnath fastening, the swinging plate pivoted at its lower end and swinging 15 laterally, and provided with one or more holes to receive the tang of the scythe, and having at its upper end a transverse slot, open at one end, whereby a hook is provided, in eo1nbination with the eyebolt, adapted to receive and 20 hold the hook, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our si gn atn res in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK S. KRETST'YGER'. EDWARD STEWART. \Vitnesses: A. A. POTTER, GEO. M. IIANUHE'LT. 

